Re: [AV Media Matters] need help - disaster plan

[Graham Newton <gn@audio-restoration.com>]

Grinnell College Libraries
cox@grinnell.edu
Elizabeth J. Cox said to the AV-Media Matters list...
On the subject:- need help - disaster plan

> Our library is in the process of creating a
> disaster plan, and we would like to include information on recovering
> videotapes, audiotapes, CDs and LPs after a disaster.  Specifically we are
> looking for recommendations on companies who do this type of
> recovery.

Although I do restoration of phonograph recordings, a major component of
such a recovery is the ability to clean the artifact in an efficient and
effective manner as soon after the damage was sustained as possible.
This would usually need to be done on the site where the problem
occurred, or at least, provisions made to preserve the artifact through
transporting it to where the proper work could be done.

Water damage comes to mind first where jacket cardboard, printed
materials and label damage occurs and progresses rapidly, demanding
proper attention immediately.  The major problem with water damage
(besides the horrific damage to the paper-based materials) is that the
water is usually very dirty, containing dissolved minerals, and who
knows what other contaminents acquired on the way to soaking your
collection.  If allowed to dry on the artifacts, some will be there to
stay, like or or not.

Repairing the damage due to earthquake or other physical actions
although serious, can likely be delayed without significantly adding to
damage already sustained by the artifact.

On the phonograph record side of things, please look at the Keith Monks
Record Cleaning Machine on my website at:-

http://www.audio-restoration.com/monks5.htm

Numerous institutions have bought these to care for their collections on
a day-by-day basis, and one in particular bought two of them
specifically to assist in recovery of a broken water-main flood.
Without wanting to appear crassly commercial about it, the Monks machine
is simply the best design of a device to clean phonograph records with
minimum time spent to get optimum results.  It isn't cheap, then again,
quality, performance and reliability doesn't come cheap in life...  but
you already knew that, didn't you?

If any readers have questions about these machines, I'd be pleased to
answer them.

... Graham Newton

--
Audio Restoration by Graham Newton, http://www.audio-restoration.com
World class professional services applied to phonograph and tape
recordings for consumers and re-releases, featuring CEDAR processes.